Knee deep in shipwright antiques, John Settree can tell you every tool’s use and the story behind it.

Walking into what can only be described as an important part of Huskisson’s history, Mr Settree can still point out a small piece of original timber left in the wharf.

“Most of these items are worth a lot of money,” he said.

Picking up an unbelievably intricate plane, Mr Settree described how it was created by convicts.

“There are things here you would never find anywhere else,” he said.

A garage sale, held over the long weekend, was a treasure trove for even the least nautical of antiquarians.  

John Settree built the last timber Settree vessel, the Tasman Sea, which was launched in 1979. 

“I started building in 1954,” Mr Settree said.

Showing off albums of family made ships and walls filled with ship models and paintings of some of the more favourite ships including the Douglas Mawson from 1914 and Day Dawn from 1869, it was clear how proud Mr Settree was of his family history in ship building.

Mr Settree said the family was selling up because it was time to down-size, but he would miss being so close to the water.

“I’ve had the best time,” Mr Settree said.

“The size of the house and the work involved is just beginning to get too much.”

The Settree family arrived in Huskisson in 1932 and Mr Settree’s grandfather, Alfred William, built the business and made some of the largest wooden ships.

Mr Settree’s father, Alfred Raymond, later took over the business and was heavily involved building items for war and later passed his skills on to his sons John and Trevor.

“James Settree was a butcher in England and when he hacked up and sold a mate’s heifer he was sent out here in chains in 1813,” Mr Settree said.

“When he arrived in Australia he started to build wooden boats; that was around 1830.

“The rest is history.”